 Adventures by Morse, Carlton E. Morse presents The Land of the Living Dead, featuring Captain Friday. If you like high adventure, come with me. If you like the stealth of entry, come with me. If you like blood and thunder, come with me. A net of death has been thrown about a little group of San Franciscans by the ancient Chicota priests of a far-off jungle temple in South America. Robert English, young archaeologist, was killed. On the advice of Mrs. Roberto Santos, Spanish-American woman familiar with Chicota mysticism, the condemned group is secretly fleeing through the protection of an old monastery hidden in the jungles of Chile. The party includes Dr. Julian English, noted archaeologist, his daughter Judith, and Captain Friday and Skip Turner. The monastery in the Chilean jungles is kept by monks who are fighting the tremendous power of the deadly priests of the living dead. Tonight, the group, including Mrs. Santos, is aboard ship seven days out from San Francisco. The craft is in a heavy fog that has clung to the ship during the whole passage. The vessel, headed for La Jolla Chile, moves cautiously through the murky atmosphere, continually sounding its deep-throated whistle. What are you trying to do, Skip? Go over the side. Mrs. Fogg, we'd never pick you up. Oh, hi, Captain Friday. Yeah, I reckon I was leaning too far. Man, this fog's sure thick. No worse than it has been. Seven days out of San Francisco and we haven't been able to see 10 feet in any direction. Mrs. Fogg hangs on like a leech. It's kind of uncanny, regular ghost ship, all week of this dog-on-clammy fog. Seven days, it just drip, drip, drip. Hey, Capy, you think there's anything in this here gorilla business? You know, anybody could make a mistake in a fog like this. I don't think three people would all make the same mistake. Yeah, but a gorilla running loose on a ship, I can't think of nothing sillier. Where'd it come from? Where does it go to? Why did it attack somebody? Well, there's that menagerie down in the hold. There are two gorillas with it. Yeah, I was asking a skiffle about that. It seems that it belonged to a circus that went broke in Arizona. Animals was bought for a zoo in Peru. But one of those gorillas were loose on the ship. The keeper'd know about it, wouldn't he? Maybe so. But I don't think anybody's seen a gorilla. Everybody's got nerves on a count of these here fogs. Hey, look, you see that, Captain? Where's Skip? I don't see anything. I swear, I saw a shadow like a big ape. Where? Not 10 feet away, right over yonder. Hey, Capy, wait for me. We'll soon prove that you're just saying things. You got a gun? You bet you. Then come on, and look out who you shoot. Yeah, just as I thought. Not a signee or a gorilla or anything else. Well, I saw something. Just the movement of the fog. Here's a couple of deck chairs. Let's finish our cigarettes before we turn in. Yeah. Cap, do you realize it's just 11 days ago tonight that we walked through the fog in San Francisco to Dr. English's house? The night Robert was killed? 11 days. It seems like years. We've been in the fog ever since. Man, them last four days in San Francisco was a little rugged. The day at Robert's funeral, I blanked a fog with some blame thick you could cut holes in it. We didn't do nothing but to sat around and wait. Wondering if an agent of the Dakota Priest was sharpening a knife for us. Is that what you were going to say? Yeah, kind of gives me the willies. Now, that same fog's following us to sea. You, uh, suppose them Dakota Priests has followed us to sea, too? Yeah, I've wondered that myself. Hey, how you explain that brotherhood of the living dead stuff? Quiet, Skip. The deck of a steamer's no place for that kind of talk. This fog may have ears as big as cartwheels. Yeah, but we checked a passenger list. Just the same. Let's not stick our necks out. Okay, boss. Hey, if you finish with your cigarette, let's go down to the doctor's cabin, huh? We stick out here on deck where there's fog rolling around. I'll be seeing worse things than gorillas. Footsteps. Don't move. Can you see who it is? No. They sound human. Oh, well, hello, Dr. English. Didn't expect to see you up on deck. Oh, Captain Friday, I've been looking all over for you. Anything going wrong, Doctor? That's a loud, Captain. The thing I've been most afraid of has happened. Kind of my state driven walk slowly. Talk. Talk of anything. Up here, unconcerned. Hey, what's wrong, Doc? Is Judith all right? Don't ask questions, Skip. When I came along the deck just now, I spent three feet of you boys before I saw you. This fog may conceal anything. Come on, let's be moving. What do you boys say to a rubber bridge? Oh, we were just coming by for you, Doctor. Yeah, we was just coming by. You know, Doctor, Skip thought he saw that phantom gorilla a few minutes ago. My heavens, Captain, not that. Talk of anything but that. Listen, off there to port, do you hear it? Whistle of another ship. Dangerous waters, these, Captain. Very dangerous. Where should we be by now, Doctor? Somewhere off the coast of Ecuador. We passed the SS Virginia going up the coast just before dinner. Here's my stateroom, boys. All right now, watch your step. Close the door, Captain. I'll get the light. Hey. What a mess. Well, the place is wrecked. Did you lose the collar button, Doc? I found the stateroom just like this when I came along from the smoking room not ten minutes ago. Whoever my visitor was, he was very thorough. I found a bag. Searched everything. Got any ideas, Doctor? Yes. The brothers to the living dead. No doubt of it. Then we haven't thrown those priests off the trail. They followed us to see. Exactly. It's a little puzzling. We'll check the passenger list. Hey, what about Judith and Mrs. Santos? They ought to be warned. They're safe enough for the present. I left them with the ship's captain for the evening. You think they're after that map? The map, the llama, the Cajang, and around with us. What the heck does it all mean? This means, Skip, that the fight is on. In spite of the fact that we checked the passenger list in the steamship company's report and the members of the crew, someone vitally interested in our movements is succeeding in boarding this ship. It also means that from now on we're on our own. I've got to keep our eyes open and, more important, I'm miles shut. You want me to get it, Doc? Yes, Skip, please. Yeah? Oh, hello, Judah. Oh, just a minute, Judah. Hey, Judith and Mrs. Santos have left to Skip's cabin and are coming here, Doc. Haven't we better meet them and bring them over? They'll have to know about our visitors. It's probably best that we tell them here. Skip told Judith we'll call for them. Okay. All right, Judith. I'll be along for you in a jiffy. No, no, no, there's no trouble at all. Listen, wait for me in your cabin, you hear? Be sure now. All right, bye. I'll go along with you, Skip. From now on we travel in pairs. Oh, look, you boss, it's only a staff. Captain Friday's right, Skip. We mustn't take any more chances. I'll try to have the room in some semblance of order by the time you're back. Are you both armed? Yes, of course. Hey, what's that? Listen. The call of the pack, Doctor. That's the sound Skip and I heard outside your place in San Francisco just before Robert was killed. Yeah, and I heard it the same night just before they tried to get me. You see, there's no escaping them. No, we've got to bring the women here. Doctor, there's plenty of room in your suite. Don't you think it'd be safer to give Mrs. Sanos and Judith your extra bedroom for the rest of the trip? They've got to have protection from now on. Good idea, Captain, but you'd better be getting along. They might get impatient and start out alone. We won't be for a moment, Doctor. Come on, Skip. And Doctor, lock the cabin door. Right. Hello? Hello, ready your room, please. This is Julian English speaking suite 3-2. Take this message for Lambert. British Museum London. Yes. British Museum. Ready? 11th day. Apprehensive. If no word from me in 12 hours, Radio Donovan to proceed from Vista del Mar has instructed. That's right. Sign that English. Yes. Yes, thank you. Huh? Now to put the cabin in the gorilla. No! No! Captain! Help! Captain, ready! Skip! The door's unlocked, Captain. Talked English must have gone out for a minute. I told him to stay here. What's happened? Look at this room. We're afraid so, Mrs. Antus. Dr. English found the cabin had been searched just a few moments ago. Well, where is Dr. English? Yes, I know that he wouldn't have gone out and let his cabin unlocked. Well, he can't be far off, Judith. Maybe he'd just gone to report this to the person. He would not make a report. Dr. English knows too well the necessity for silence. Hey, look, here's his hat. Just where he dropped it when we came in. I don't like it. I'm going out on deck and have a look around. Do you have a telephone for help? No, Judith. If your father wanted this kept quiet, it's up to us to follow instructions. Captain Friday, I do not think Dr. English left this room alone. Oh, Mrs. Antus, don't say that. Yeah, let me get that, Judith. Please, Captain. 32, Captain Friday speaking. No, Dr. English is not here. Yes? Just a moment, please. Radio Room reports receiving telephone instructions from Dr. English that a radiogram he placed with them be stopped. He disease report to the British Museum. Say to the operator, Captain Friday, that Dr. English's message must go through. Now, at once, it must go through. Hello, Radio Room. Now, there's some mistake. I'm sure Dr. English doesn't want the message cancelled. Please see that it's sent immediately. I'll be responsible. Yes. Thank you. Brothers to the living dead. We must move quickly now, Captain Friday. Captain Friday, look. Here, on this piece of paper. Yeah, that's blood. And here is another drop on the table. Oh, Father. Captain Friday, we've got to do something. Get hold of yourself, Judith. Hush, Senorita English. Keep your wits about you. There are secret agents of the Maya Nahib aboard these ships and your father has fallen in their hands. You must help us fight them. Mrs. Otto, this must we all die one by one. My child, we are fighting the most evil thing our civilization has ever known. It is inevitable that one or more of us must die. But the price is small. Remember, we are five against the destiny of mankind. The price is small. Your father knew. Why do you use the word new, Mrs. Santas? They're behind you, Captain Friday. It's something I noticed when we first came into the room. See on the wall there, beside the door. Oh, the imprint of a hand. A bloody hand. What's the meaning of that, Mrs. Santas? It is the blood-red hand of the Chicotas, a sign employed since the beginning of their civilization to indicate the accomplishment of a task. It means these work is finished. Oh, no, Mrs. Santas. Quiet, everyone. Skip. Yeah? Someone at the door. Yeah, we're now up to turn it. Judith, Mrs. Santas, get in the other room quickly. Come, scenery of English. Watch it now, Skip. The door's opening. What? It's the laugh of a madman. Ship carrying Captain Friday, Skip and the party of Dr. English to Chile, South America, has become a death ship. Fog bound and the stealth of death. First, Dr. English vanished from his suite, and then someone in the passage outside opened the door. Without waiting, Skip shot through the door. Skip, stop that. Stop shooting. You hear me? Give me that gun. Let the whole ship down on us. Yeah, but Captain, do you want him to get away? What was it? What was it, Captain? I couldn't tell. Whatever it was, partly opened the door, then suddenly slammed it shut and ran as Skip opened fire. I reckon I made a fool of myself. But that terrible laugh... It sounded to me like the laugh of one of the Chicotas neophytes. I have heard that laugh before in the La Jolla jungles. I'm going out after him. Skip, you stay here with Judith and Mrs. Santas. Captain, wait. Don't go out there alone. Oh, he shouldn't have gone alone. My son, take heart. At such moments, we are not ourselves. You are being trained for the great crisis in your life. Your senses are being ground to a finer edge. Look here, Mrs. Santas, we're fighting in the dark now. I'm going to call the ships, Captain. Wait! Well, we ain't done nothing but wait. They killed Robert. We sat around and waited, and then they almost got me. We waited again and Dr. English disappeared. Now, Captain Friday's out there on deck in that fog. I'm all through with waiting. Wait! What do you say, Judith? Well, I don't know, Skip. I don't know. What? You don't know? Have you then so soon forgotten your father's word, señorita? Yes, Skip. Of course I know. If it's dad's wish that we work under cover and alone, even if it costs the lives of all of us. Yeah, but Judith, can't you see, we're fighting in the dark against big odds. What can't you just sit and wait for the end? It's Captain Friday. Let me in. Did you find dad, Captain Friday? Not a trace of it. Did anybody hear my shots, Captain? Apparently not, Skip. The deck's deserted. Mrs. Santas? Yes? Would you and Judith feel safe locked in here if I should take Skip with me for another look around the deck? Captain Friday, then you have found something. No, Judith. But I do want to push the search a little further. If you'd rather, we'll take you to the salon first. We will remain here, Captain Friday. Good. Now, Skip, we need a couple of flashlights. Dr. English had several of them. Do you see any in this mess? Here's one. Oh, and here's another one. Right. Now, Mrs. Santas, above all things, don't open this door to anyone. If you either skip or I wrap, we'll call out. Identify ourselves. Understand? Oh, do be careful, won't you? We'll watch it, Judith. Come on, Skip. No. Hey, what's up, Captain? You have found something. I could tell it to minute you come back. Yes, I have, Skip. I didn't want to upset Judith until we had a chance to investigate. I discovered it by accident when I returned to the stateroom. Look. See how the light of that deck lamp falls on the wet deck there by the door? That dark spot? Hey, that's a blood stain. Fresh, too. Yes, blood. I think we'll find others. I get you, Captain. The enemy, whoever he or it is, left a trail for us to follow. Yes. That's why I wanted the flashlights. Ah, it's nice work, boss. I want to hope the trail don't lead us over the rail. I don't think so, Skip. Dr. English is more valuable alive than dead. Hey, look. Look, here's another spot. And another. Go ahead, Skip. That's allowed. Go slow. We don't want to rush it. There's that thing again. Hey, what's the matter, Captain? Turn out the light, Skip. Listen. Looks like somebody set in a stage for another murder. If it hasn't already happened. Keep still. Listen. I don't hear nothing. All right. Let's go on. Yeah, see, here's another spot. Careful now. We don't want to run into any trap. Hey, what do you make of that howl, Captain? You really think there's any such thing as a werewolf? I could introduce you to a half a dozen reputable men who would swear to it. Besides that, I... Hello. Our trail's come to an end. Right in front of a state room. Hey, you want me to... Wait a minute, Skip. It's got around. I don't want to go making any mistakes. Hey, listen, Captain, you hear that? Someone groaning. Did it come from the state room? Well, I ain't sure, but... It's Dr. English. They've got him in this state room. The door's locked. I tried it. That won't stop us. Are you gonna break in? Of course. Come on. Now, together. Once more, Skip. Hey, Cap. Cap, look out. It's a gorilla. Shoot, Skip. Shoot. Duck, Cap. Duck down. You're in my line of fire. Let him have it. Quick, Skip. You got him, Skip. He's down. Hey, look out, Cap. He's up again. Hey, look. He's tearing at his head. Look at those hands, Skip. They're human. That's no gorilla. It's a man. He's torn the skin away. There's his head. Look out. He's getting out the other door. He's heading for the rail. Stop him. Stop him, Skip. Look out for him. He's got a knife. Hey, listen. He's saying something. Hey, listen. He's saying something. Hey, listen. He's saying something. Hey, listen. He's saying something. Look, there he goes over the side. Well, good for him. Good riddance. Hey, did you hear what he said, Cap? Well, I heard he mentioned brothers to the living dead. He was an Asian to the brotherhood, all right. Come on. Let's go have a look at Dr. English. Yeah. I got just one glimpse into that gorilla-fella stage room before I made a jump at him. Yeah. Now, the doctor was tied to the bed. Are you all right? Oh, he's not dead. He's... Cap, Cap, look at his arm. Yeah, it's horrible. We're fighting a gang of fiends. Yeah, help me carry him back to his own suite. Now, you take his knees. I'll take his shoulder. Yeah, I got it. Let's get him out of this before he comes to. No wonder he fainted. No wonder he screamed. Yeah. And let's go. Oh, Mrs. Santos, you think they've killed Dad? Tell me really. God to tell me. I can't... I can't stand it. Anything better than a suspense. Senorita English, stop and think. Isn't there something these agents of the priesthood want more than they desire the life of your father? The map, Mrs. Santos. The map from the Chiang Ho monastery. Of course, Senorita. The map. They may succeed in killing each one of us, but if they do not recover the map with a secret passage to the sacred city... Yes. Yes, I see it now. I thought you would. They know that your father is custodian of the map. If they kill him before they lay hands on the map, then they may never find it. Then Dad isn't Dad. I know now that he isn't. But he might better be. He might better be. What do you mean, Mrs. Santos? The torture they will put him to to make him tell where the map is hidden. We'd be excruciating beyond belief. The brothers to the living that are very devils when he comes to torture him. They wouldn't. They couldn't. Wait. I hear footsteps. Mrs. Santos, Judith. It's Captain Friday and Skip. We've got Dr. English. Oh, they've got Father. Here, I'll open it. There, come in. Oh, what's happened to Father? Is he dead? No, he's just faint. Clear off the bed, will you, Judith? Sometimes water is what you want. Judith, lock the door again. Yes. Here are smelling salts, Captain Friday. Thanks. Skip, help me rip off his shirt so we can get to that arm. Yeah. Oh, what have they done to his arm? I told you they were masters of torture. He's coming too. Quick, I want to get his arm bound up before he awakens. He will be around now any moment. I will bathe his head with his cold water. I'll be finished here in a moment. Another piece of adhesive tape, Skip. Here. There. He's opening his eyes. There, what did I tell you? Oh, Father. We've got you back. You've come back to us. Oh, my arm. Stop. Stop. Don't torture me this way. Where... Where am I? What? You, Judith. Oh, you poor dear. Yeah, Doctor, drink this and you'll be all right. There. Careful of that arm. Oh, you found me just in time, Captain. I'm grateful. No, never mind that. How do you feel? Better, I think. What happened, Dad? What did they do to you? It began when the Captain and Skip went out to get you and Mrs. Santos. I... I was at the phone. When I turned around, there was a huge gorilla right in front of me. Grinning in my face. At least I thought it was a gorilla at the moment. Yeah, we ran into him ourselves. Go on, Doctor. He knocked me unconscious. When I awakened, I was tied to a berth in a strange state room. This horrible gorilla thing was standing over me. At the foot of the berth, it was the most grotesque, most ghastly being I've ever laid eyes on. Dad, what was it? It was a thing... I suppose he was human. The thing that followed the Captain and skipped the night Robert was killed. The doll hunched back, beady-eyed, ears back, flat against his head like a... like a mad dog. Has a long face like a dog, too. He's the one who's been doing the howling. I never believed in werewolves before. The La Jolla jungle breathed many such human monstrosities, Dr. English. This is only the beginning of what you will see. Then the gorilla spoke, and I know it to be a man in an apeskin. He asked me for the map, and I... kept my mouth shut. After ten minutes, he and his werewolf thing went into a corner and whispered together. Finally, the wolf monstrosities slipped out of the state room, and the gorilla man came back to me. He had a dagger in his hand, a long, slender dagger. Oh, an old, old doctor method. He made a fire and held the dagger over the flame until it was red hard. Then he bent over me and gave me one more chance to tell where the map was hidden. I clenched my teeth and waited. Then I'm afraid I screamed and fainted. That scream saved your life, Dr. English. Yeah, Skip and I heard it and broke down the door. What became of the gorilla man? Skip shot and wounded him. Before we could stop him, he leaped over the rail of the ship and plunged into the ocean. My dear people, this is but the beginning. Think, if they hold their own lives so cheaply, how little our lives must mean to them. Yeah, but this werewolf fell off. Get him, and you will have one of the most desperate of the brotherhood's agents outside this sacred city. It is known that his terrible cruelties can make even death seem a pleasant possibility. The desperate deeds of a desperate brotherhood continues next week. When you will hear chapter 3 of The Land of the Living Dead entitled The Green-eyed Murderous Again, there will be violence and mystery and breathtaking action in the jungle village of La Jolla on the secret passage of the living dead. You are listening to Adventures by Morse.